Avoiding the “War of the Wardrobe”
Posted By Maryann Porosky On MAY 23,2017
The daily ritual of getting dressed is a deeply engrained act of independence and self-expression. But dressing is not easy for people with dementia. It is, in fact, a fairly complex series of steps.
Common struggles
At Caring Choices, we notice that dressing is an area of conflict for many families. The person with dementia has lost the ability to make wise decisions about clothing. Sometimes they put on sweaters on a hot day. Or wear a fancy dress despite plans to work in the garden. They get confused and put garments on in the wrong order (e.g., shoes before pants). Or simply can't manage a series of buttons or the dexterity required for a zipper. Frequently people with dementia have a favorite outfit and they simply don't want to get out of it, wearing it for days on end.
Choices are overwhelming
While an array of choices might seem like a fun opportunity to most of us, for people with dementia, it's too much. They often are overcome and simply choose to make no choice. This is part of the allure of keeping the same clothes on for days at a time. One can avoid the discomforts of not knowing what to choose.
Planning is difficult
The part of the brain that strings together a set of sequential steps is often the part of the brain that is affected most with dementia. Remembering to put on socks and underwear before pants and then shoes is surprisingly complex.
Motor skills are compromised
Just because a person has dementia does not mean they are exempt from other changes of aging. Arthritis is an equal opportunity condition. And with it comes reduced range of motion and difficulty with fine motor skills. Fastening buttons, zipping zippers, and putting on/taking off overhead sweaters can be both painful and puzzling.
Dignity and self-expression
Problems with logical thinking does not mean that a person with dementia has lost the desire to be independent and express their individuality. Your loved one has had decades of developing a personal style. He or she still has a sense of dignity as well. There are so many losses with dementia, it's important to respect and preserve what you can of your loved one's ability to get dressed alone and exhibit their personal taste.
Tips to reduce conflict
Keeping all this in mind, we offer tips to reduce conflict over dressing in the May issue of our monthly newsletter for family caregivers. From buying multiples of a favorite garment to selecting dementia-friendly clothes, there are things you can do to make dressing easier and help your loved one retain his or her personal dignity
Is dementia stretching your bandwidth?
Caring for a person with cognitive impairment is one of the most stressful activities of family life. We can help. We are the north New Jersey experts in aging well. As we look at your unique situation, we can give you ideas that ease the process and preserve self-esteem and maximum independence for the person you care for. Give us a call at 973-627-4087.
973.627.4087
